26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Galveston Island Humane Society

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

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26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Galveston Island Humane Society

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

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This pair won the event getting through multiple heats to prove they were the top surfers. Marco Fistein and his dog Bruce stole the show. You can see the dog is right there with him enjoying the breeze.

Photo: Galveston Island Humane Society

This pair won the event getting through multiple heats to prove...

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26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. This one-year-old retriever/terrier mix called Chiquita, a shelter dog, was one of the stars coming in second. She still needs a home so if anyone wants a surfing dog for a pet give the Galveston Island Humane Society a call.

Photo: Galveston Island Humane Society

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. This...

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26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

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Dogs of any size can take part, even teeny tiny ones like this.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

Dogs of any size can take part, even teeny tiny ones like this.

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26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Galveston Island Humane Society

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

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26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

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Here's another shelter dog that made it out for the day - another potential surf pal that needs a home. Check him out at the Galveston Island Humane Society.

Photo: Galveston Island Humane Society

Here's another shelter dog that made it out for the day - another...

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Here's another shelter dog that made it out for the day - another potential surf pal that needs a home. Check him out at the Galveston Island Humane Society.

Photo: Galveston Island Humane Society

Here's another shelter dog that made it out for the day - another...

Image 11 of 32

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Galveston Island Humane Society

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

Image 12 of 32

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

Image 13 of 32

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Galveston Island Humane Society

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

Image 14 of 32

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Galveston Island Humane Society

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

Image 15 of 32

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Galveston Island Humane Society

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

Image 16 of 32

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

Image 17 of 32

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

Image 18 of 32

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

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Judges watched the 15 minute long heats like hawks, counting just how many waves each pooch could catch.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

Judges watched the 15 minute long heats like hawks, counting just...

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26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

Image 21 of 32

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

Image 22 of 32

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

Image 23 of 32

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday....

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Waiting their turn. These dogs watch on, perhaps trying to learn some new skills.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

Waiting their turn. These dogs watch on, perhaps trying to learn...

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Another pup needing a home, surfing could be on your agenda.

Photo: Bonnie Stark

Another pup needing a home, surfing could be on your agenda.

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26 dogs took to their boards at the cry of Surf's Up Sunday. Galveston Island Humane Society say they hope they can make the event an annual extravaganza with beach side games for kids added too.

Galveston's surfing dog competition, which was held for the second time Sunday, is set to become an annual event with organizers' sights set on a canine extravaganza to rival the famed sandcastle competition.

Twenty-six dogs took to their boards at the cry of "surf's up" this past weekend - that's twice as many as last year when the event was first held.

The brain child of the Ohana Surf and Skate shop, the watery spectacle is in aid of the Galveston Island Humane Society. Four shelter dogs got out for the day to join the crowd of regular pet owners who came along to enjoy the fun.

Many had never been on boards before and instructors were on hand to make sure there were no doggie "wipe outs".

"We had several people, staff and voluteers in the water with them, and their owners of course," said Caroline Dorsett-Pate, executive director at the Humane Society.

Fifteen-minute long heats were held over the course of four hours in the event which was won by Marco Fistein and his Peruvian Crested dog, Bruce.

The key to winning? Balance and concentration.

The plan is to keep expanding and add beachside events for kids, like volleyball and frisbee competitions, for a fun filled event to be held every year.

How to teach your dog to surf

Start by getting them comfortable in the water, playing, paddling, generally splashing around just for fun.

Try them on the board - one with a little padding is best. You've seen your dog wobble around in the back of the car. They need that extra grip to hold on to.

Doggie life-jackets. The best thing about these is they have handles, so if your dog starts to freak out you can easily grab her and stablize her.

Stay in shallow water. If you can stand up it's much easier for you to control what's happening, you'll be stable even if you're dog is not.

No treats! Sorry puppies but doggie surfing is a treat free zone, your owner just doesn't have enough hands to hold you and the board and the treats. Wait until after to feed your doggie face.

Learn the waves, once your dog is happy on the board, study the water. Catching the wave is all about timing - then when you see one rolling in - give your dog's board a push and away they go!

Dorsett-Pate says if your pup is into it they'll ride the surf all the way into the beach.

"They just kept going back for more," she said, " They were kind of romping in the water, it shows you that there's so many things you can do with your pets on a regular basis."